Big Game Hunting Press Releases and Blogs
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Youth-only controlled hunts provide excellent foundational opportunities for big game hunting
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 - 2:19 PM MDTBudding hunters have until June 5 to apply for tags for elk, deer, pronghorn and black bear controlled hunts set aside exclusively for youth. The controlled hunt application period for deer, elk, pronghorn and fall black bear hunts runs from May 1 to June 5, and winners will be posted online by July 10.
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Super Hunt is a family affair for long-time Idaho elk hunter
Monday, May 9, 2022 - 3:04 PM MDTIf you can see the photo of Tom Miles and his Super Hunt bull, you know how it ends, but there is much more to this story than a life-long elk hunter who killed a trophy bull. Miles, a 70-year old native Idahoan from Meridian, drew the ultra-coveted Super Hunt tag in 2021, and what followed lived up to the name. Application deadline for the first Super Hunt is May 31. To apply go to idfg.idaho.gov/superhunt.
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Winter survival estimates for mule deer fawns, elk calves show slight increase from 2021
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 - 2:01 PM MDTStatewide survival of collared mule deer fawns and elk calves was above average through April. Fish and Game biologists will continue monitoring through May, but traditionally less than 5 percent of the mortalities occur after April.
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Big game/fall turkey controlled hunt application period runs May 1 through June 5
Thursday, April 28, 2022 - 11:30 AM MDTControlled hunts for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear and turkey are an excellent opportunity to try for a chance at some of Idaho’s best hunts. Hunters with a valid 2022 Idaho hunting license may apply for controlled hunts at any license vendor, Fish and Game office, or with a credit card online at license.gooutdoorsidaho.com or by calling 1-800-554-8685.
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Deadline alert! Application period for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat hunts ends April 30
Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 4:08 PM MDTA reminder to big game hunters that Saturday, April 30 is the deadline to apply for any moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunts. Folks can apply for one of these three species in a year, and those who apply for a moose, sheep or goat hunt are ineligible for most deer, elk and pronghorn controlled hunt drawings.
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2022 Big Game Seasons and Rules now available
Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - 3:51 PM MDTIdaho Fish and Game has updated its fall hunting season in response to two disease outbreaks and new legislation that affected some seasons and rules. You can see the 2022 Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules online, and the printed booklets will be at license and tag vendors and Fish and Game regional offices later in April.
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Hunter harvest stats show slight drop in elk and mule deer harvested in 2021, significant drop in white-tailed deer due to disease outbreak
Monday, April 4, 2022 - 10:41 AM MDTDespite deer and elk harvest numbers dropping across the board, numbers have shown to be relatively on track with historic 10-year averages for mule deer and elk. White-tailed deer, however, didn’t fare as well in 2021. As anticipated, the number of white-tailed deer dropped significantly, a decline attributed to a late-summer disease outbreak.
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Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunt application period is now open
Friday, April 1, 2022 - 8:37 AM MDTMoose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunt applications are now open through April 30. Tag numbers remain the same as they were in 2021 with the exception of changes to two California bighorn sheep hunts.
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F&G Commission approves changes to 2022 deer and elk hunting seasons
Thursday, March 24, 2022 - 4:02 PM MDTThe Fish and Game Commission modified deer and elk 2022 season changes during their March commission meeting in Boise are in response to detection of chronic wasting disease and an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease last year.
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F&G Commission special meeting March 23-24 in Boise
Monday, March 14, 2022 - 2:50 PM MDTThe Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet March 23 and 24 at the Fish and Game Headquarters Office in Boise.
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Draw results available for spring bear controlled hunts
Friday, March 4, 2022 - 11:23 AM MSTSpring bear controlled hunt draw results are now available. Hunters can check their account on GoOutdoorsIdaho.com or see how to set up an account online to see if they drew controlled hunt tags for spring black bear. Hunters whose names were drawn can buy the controlled hunt tags through the online license system or by calling 1-800-554-8685.
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F&G will host a virtual meeting March 8 for proposed 2022 deer/elk hunt changes
Thursday, March 3, 2022 - 12:08 PM MSTIdaho Fish and Game will host a virtual open house at 7 p.m. MST, March 8 to provide information on proposed deer and elk hunt changes for 2022 in response to the detection of Chronic Wasting Disease in Unit 14 and an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in the Clearwater Region. People can join the meeting by logging onto https://zoom.us/j/98740232387
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Hunters can comment on proposed changes for 2022 deer and elk seasons from Feb. 22 through March 13
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 - 4:13 PM MST -
Shed hunt responsibly to protect big game animals
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 - 12:39 PM MSTArmed with nothing more than a good set of eyes, looking for a deer or elk’s shed antlers in late-winter and early-spring is a highly accessible hobby for those squirming like birddogs for the next outdoor adventure. But don’t jump the gun on shed hunting season and disturb wintering deer and elk.
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F&G proposes Unit 14 hunt changes in response to Chronic Wasting Disease
Thursday, February 10, 2022 - 1:26 PM MST -
Latest Fish and Game wolf population estimate is 1,543 and stable since 2019
Thursday, January 27, 2022 - 12:26 PM MSTIdaho’s wolf population has remained stable and consistent over the last three years based on camera surveys done last summer and since 2019. The 2021 population estimate for Aug. 1 was 1,543 wolves. The 2020 and 2019 estimates were 1,556 and 1,566.
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Applications for spring black bear controlled hunts runs Jan. 15 through Feb. 15
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 - 11:24 AM MSTSpring 2022 black bear controlled hunt applications open Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Here are a few ways to apply this year.
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F&G to begin helicopter surveys for big game animals in the Upper Snake Region
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 2:15 PM MSTBeginning in mid-January, Idaho Fish and Game staff will use low-flying helicopters to count deer and elk populations in Unit 50 of the Pioneer Zone. Disturbance to the animals is kept to the minimum needed to acquire accurate information and is generally less than a few minutes. Survey flights for the Upper Snake are expected to be completed by January 25.
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Fish and Game to offer official big game and trophy scoring opportunity in Jerome
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 - 2:50 PM MST -
Last call for 2021 big game hunter reports
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 - 2:38 PM MSTWith many of Idaho’s big game hunting seasons now closed, Idaho Fish and Game reminds hunters to fill out their hunter harvest reports if they purchased a deer, elk or pronghorn tag in 2021. Reporting harvested or unharvested game is vital so wildlife managers can get the critical population data they need to manage big game herds and propose hunting seasons in the future.